49ers Back Up Strong Statement

The beads, the chants, the pendants were all fitting spoils of victory for the 49ers. For the second time in 11 months, they owned the New Orleans Saints on the football field.

Their 31-21 victory emphatically disproved any notion that their NFC divisional playoff win against the Saints in January was a fluke. If there is such a thing as imposing your will on another football team the 49ers have now done so twice to their former NFC West division rivals.